Films relevant to a medical education

I think that there are lots of great films out there that are relevant to medical education, whether it’s in terms of understanding the public’s perception of certain conditions, being made aware of dis/misinformation portrayed in films that our patients may be exposed to or actually because the film in question very accurately portrays a certain condition or medical scenario.

Here are some films that may be relevant to student doctors, nurses and medical professionals:

Flatliners (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099582/) as Will put it “Awesome film from the 90s about medical students trying to achieve near death experiences” a 1990 must see film, highly recommended by my pals on Twitter!

Wit (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243664/) A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Part of many, including my own, medical school curriculum (thanks to @anniekey for recommending this film).

My Sister’s Keeper (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078588/) Parents on their youngest child to help their leukemia-stricken daughter remain alive (Thanks to jennjennthehen for recommending this!)

Girl, Interrupted (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172493/) Based on writer Susanna Kaysen’s account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s, borderline personality disorder (Thanks to jennjennthehen for recommending this!)

My Name Is Khan (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1188996/) protagonist portrays a character who has Asperger’s syndrome. Nice to notice the typical mannerisms of a patient. (Thanks to Arps for recommending this!)

Harsh Times (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433387/) Gritty drama. Of note because its the only film I’ve ever seen that correctly shows a person sitting in the front of a car dying / getting shot after the back of their car is shot

This post is very much a work in progress, I will be updating this post with new film titles as and when I think of or see ones relevant to medicine. If you like to please submit your films with their respective medical areas of relevance in the comments section below.

First published: 19th April 2010

Updated 21st April 2010: Added Girl, Interrupted and My Name is Khan to ‘Psychiatry,’ and My Sister’s Keeper to ‘Oncology’